For motorcycle riders, America’s roads have never been deadlier. According to the most recent data, there were 5,636 motorcycle fatalities in 2021 — the highest number ever recorded. Each year, the number of fatalities seems to rise.

Key findings

  • Texas, Arkansas and Missouri have the highest rates of motorcycle fatalities.
  • Motorcycle fatalities are up 22% over the last decade.
  • Helmet usage declined from 71% to 68% nationwide from 2020 to 2021.
  • Alcohol was involved in 36% of motorcycle fatalities in 2021.

To find the most dangerous states for motorcycle riders, our analysts looked at motorcycle fatalities going back over the last decade. We found that motorcycle fatalities are heavily influenced by three factors: alcohol, climate and helmet use.

Most dangerous states for motorcycle riders

Motorcycle fatalities in the u.s.

Climate plays an important role when looking at the most dangerous states for motorcycle riders. We found that warmer, southern states with weather conducive to riding have the highest rates of motorcycle fatalities. Texas is the most dangerous state for motorcycle riders. But Arkansas, Missouri and South Carolina all have nearly four times the fatality rates of northern states like New Hampshire, North Dakota and Alaska.

Some of the most alarming data was the increase in fatalities over the last year. Nationally, this figure was low, at only a 1% increase. However, Hawaii saw a 78% increase and Vermont a 50% increase from 2020 to 2021.

Motorcycle fatalities in each state
State Motorcycle fatalities in 2021 % change in fatalities from 2020 Deaths per 10K motorcycles
Texas 496 3% 13.0
Arkansas 93 16% 12.8
Missouri 151 23% 11.9
South Carolina 167 22% 11.2
Nevada 84 45% 10.1
Louisiana 81 4% 10.1
Florida 612 2% 9.5
Hawaii 32 78% 9.2
Tennessee 156 3% 9.0
North Carolina 212 10% 8.5
Delaware 22 47% 8.2
Georgia 183 -5% 8.0
Kentucky 96 4% 7.9
New Mexico 49 7% 7.6
Connecticut 64 10% 7.3
Michigan 167 -2% 7.1
Mississippi 35 -44% 6.8
Maryland 75 -12% 6.6
Vermont 15 50% 6.6
Arizona 144 -11% 6.5
Colorado 128 -9% 6.4
Oklahoma 75 19% 6.3
New Jersey 95 22% 6.2
Oregon 78 15% 6.0
Wyoming 15 -21% 6.0
New York 212 6% 5.8
California 552 2% 5.8
Illinois 163 7% 5.7
Virginia 107 6% 5.7
Pennsylvania 211 -4% 5.5
Indiana 123 -19% 5.2
West Virginia 26 -32% 5.2
Ohio 202 -4% 5.2
Rhode Island 13 0% 4.7
Idaho 31 15% 4.5
Massachusetts 66 27% 4.5
Kansas 44 -32% 4.4
Alabama 72 -8% 4.3
Utah 38 -14% 3.9
Iowa 64 0% 3.8
South Dakota 19 -30% 3.7
Nebraska 21 -38% 3.7
Montana 25 -14% 3.7
Washington 85 -7% 3.5
Wisconsin 112 -3% 3.5
Minnesota 67 2% 3.3
Maine 19 -34% 3.2
New Hampshire 22 -12% 2.6
Alaska 6 50% 2.6
North Dakota 4 -76% 1.1
U.S. total 5,636 1% 6.6

Alcohol use and motorcycle fatalities

Motorcycle deaths involving alcohol

Alcohol was involved in 36% of motorcycle fatalities in 2021. In some cases, the person killed was below the legal limit. However, 29% of fatalities involved someone legally intoxicated, and in 18% of cases, the person killed had a blood alcohol content (BAC) level nearly twice the legal limit.

Our analysts found alcohol use while riding was especially prevalent in certain states. Alcohol was involved in nearly 50% of fatal crashes in West Virginia, Iowa and Hawaii. Alaska, Idaho and Rhode Island had the highest numbers of fatal crashes where someone was severely intoxicated.

Motorcycle deaths involving alcohol
State % of fatalities with BAC 0.01 or higher % of fatalities with BAC 0.08 or higher (legally impaired) % of fatalities with BAC 0.15 or higher (severely impaired)
West Virginia 50% 39% 22%
Iowa 47% 35% 19%
Hawaii 46% 29% 18%
Rhode Island 46% 38% 31%
Connecticut 45% 32% 21%
Ohio 45% 35% 23%
Louisiana 44% 33% 21%
New Hampshire 44% 39% 24%
Colorado 43% 33% 22%
Maine 43% 27% 18%
Montana 43% 38% 17%
Texas 42% 35% 23%
Wyoming 42% 41% 30%
Illinois 41% 33% 23%
Maryland 41% 33% 21%
Washington 41% 31% 18%
Wisconsin 41% 36% 19%
Massachusetts 40% 34% 19%
South Carolina 40% 32% 18%
Idaho 39% 36% 32%
Arkansas 36% 30% 17%
California 36% 29% 17%
Virginia 36% 28% 15%
Georgia 35% 27% 18%
Nevada 35% 22% 11%
Oklahoma 35% 30% 26%
New Jersey 34% 29% 23%
New Mexico 34% 27% 15%
New York 34% 27% 17%
Oregon 34% 27% 19%
Pennsylvania 34% 26% 15%
Vermont 34% 34% 20%
Alaska 33% 33% 33%
Florida 33% 27% 16%
Indiana 33% 27% 15%
Minnesota 33% 27% 16%
Missouri 33% 28% 18%
Nebraska 33% 27% 13%
Arizona 31% 25% 16%
North Carolina 30% 23% 12%
Tennessee 30% 22% 13%
Alabama 29% 23% 11%
Michigan 29% 23% 15%
Kentucky 26% 19% 14%
South Dakota 26% 15% 6%
Kansas 25% 21% 14%
North Dakota 25% 25% 25%
Utah 24% 21% 13%
Delaware 22% 22% 16%
Mississippi 20% 17% 10%
U.S. total 36% 29% 18%

Motorcycle helmet laws

Motorcycle helmet incidents in the U.S.

Wearing helmets saves lives. Recent studies show that wearing a DOT-approved helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 69% and the risk of death by 42%. Despite these facts, many states don’t require helmets, and helmet use has declined by four percentage points nationwide.

What’s especially concerning is that helmet use is steadily declining in areas with the highest number of fatalities. We also found that riders are significantly less likely to wear a helmet when they have a passenger.

Motorcycle helmet use
Category Helmet use in 2020 Helmet use in 2021 percentage point change 2020-2021
Riders 69% 67% -2
Passengers 72% 52% -20
Solo 69% 70% 1
Rider and passenger 65% 52% -13
Motorcycle helmet use by region
Category Helmet use in 2020 Helmet use in 2021 percentage point change 2020-2021
Northeast 77% 70% -7
Midwest 53% 45% -9
South 70% 71% 1
West 85% 88% 3
Urban 67% 65% –2
Rural 71% 65% -6

Motorcycle helmet laws vary from state to state. We found 18 states where all riders are required to wear a helmet, 29 that require them depending on age and three with no helmet laws at all.

Helmet laws by state
State # of deaths where rider was wearing a helmet # of deaths where rider wasn't wearing a helmet Helmet law
Alabama 62 12 all riders
Alaska 4 2 17 and younger
Arizona 72 70 17 and younger
Arkansas 41 53 20 and younger
California 516 37 all riders
Colorado 48 84 17 and younger
Connecticut 25 35 17 and younger
Delaware 19 4 18 and younger
Florida 314 328 20 and younger
Georgia 165 14 all riders
Hawaii 12 21 17 and younger
Idaho 11 20 17 and younger
Illinois 62 108 no law
Indiana 42 86 17 and younger
Iowa 17 51 no law
Kansas 18 26 17 and younger
Kentucky 32 73 20 and younger
Louisiana 61 19 all riders
Maine 8 13 17 and younger
Maryland 61 15 all riders
Massachusetts 66 1 all riders
Michigan 77 74 20 and younger
Minnesota 24 44 17 and younger
Mississippi 35 2 all riders
Missouri 71 80 25 and younger
Montana 7 19 17 and younger
Nebraska 19 0 *all riders
Nevada 63 9 all riders
New Hampshire 5 19 no law
New Jersey 83 12 all riders
New Mexico 23 27 17 and younger
New York 181 30 all riders
North Carolina 209 18 all riders
North Dakota 3 5 17 and younger
Ohio 66 154 17 and younger
Oklahoma 15 59 17 and younger
Oregon 76 5 all riders
Pennsylvania 107 108 20 and younger
Rhode Island 5 8 20 and younger
South Carolina 64 112 20 and younger
South Dakota 5 17 17 and younger
Tennessee 144 13 all riders
Texas 266 232 20 and younger
Utah 23 15 20 and younger
Vermont 13 2 all riders
Virginia 100 9 all riders
Washington 85 2 all riders
West Virginia 14 12 all riders
Wisconsin 36 83 17 and younger
Wyoming 6 8 17 and younger
U.S. total 3,487 2,251 N/A
*Nebraska is implementing a new helmet law: 20 and younger, effective in 2024.

Riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than most other forms of transportation. But that doesn’t mean it should be needlessly dangerous. Alcohol is involved in an alarming number of fatal crashes, and helmet use is declining in places where it should be increasing. There’s an old story about why you’ll never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office that only motorcycle riders will understand. Riding is fun, freeing and relaxing. Let’s put on the helmet, put down the beer and ride safely.

Methodology

Motorcycle fatalities were calculated using NHTSA traffic safety statistics from 2020 and 2021. The fatality rate was calculated using 2021 fatality numbers per 10,000 registered motorcycles. The number of alcohol-related motorcycle fatalities was calculated using 2021 NHTSA data. Legally intoxicated is defined as having a BAC level of 0.08%. Severely impaired is defined as having a BAC level of 0.15% or more.

Additionally, the number of fatalities where the rider was not wearing a helmet was compared to the number of deaths without a helmet. This was paired with helmet laws per state from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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